John-Vetyeka unification bout in jeopardy?

The latest from down under is that the unification bout between Indonesian Chris John, the reigning WBA featherweight world champion, and IBO featherweight world champion, South African, Simphiwe Vetyeka scheduled for Friday December 6 in Perth, Australia could be in jeopardy.

News is the deal for this fight was made and finalized without Vetyeka’s manager, former IBF and IBO world champion Lovemore Ndou’s knowledge and consent. Upon finding out about this Ndou has threatened to take legal action against the boxer and any other party that purports to promote/ manage or sanction this fight involving his fighter without his written consent.

According to Ndou he signed a two year management agreement with Vetyeka in 2011. This management agreement automatically extended for another two (2) years following Vetyeka’s win over Daud Cino Yordan for the IBO world title on 14 April 2013 by virtue of a clause in that agreement which states that:

Unless the boxer gives the manager a notice in writing no more than ninety (90) and no less than thirty (30) days prior to the expiry of the term, then this agreement shall automatically extend for two (2) years. Further, should the Boxer be declared a World champion at any time, by either the WBC (World Boxing Council), WBA (World Boxing Association), IBF (International Boxing Federation) and the IBO (International Boxing Organization) during the term of this Management Agreement, then this agreement shall automatically extend for two (2) years.

According to Ndou this management agreement further stipulates that during its term the manager shall have the control of the engagements of the boxer, thus any purported control of the engagements of this boxer by any other party is at variance to its terms. Ndou has since put the promoters of the fight, Dragon Fire Promotions, and both the WBA and IBO on notice and advised all parties to cease and desist from promoting/managing/sanctioning Simphiwe Vetyeka’s fight without his written consent or risk a lawsuit.

A lawyer by profession, Ndou said he sympathizes with the promoters from Dragon Fire Promotions whom he believes that were misled and never made aware of the management agreement that exists between Vetyeka and himself. As a fighter himself he also sympathizes with Chris John who has trained so hard for this fight and understands what could be going through his head right now.

“Look, obviously we can still work out something in the next day or so and save this show. I am anxious to work with Dragon Fire Promotions in resolving this matter and an offer has been made to them to settle this matter. This offer will stand till Monday the 2nd of December 2013 at 4pm Australian time. Failure to reach an agreement by the deadline will leave me no other option but to enforce my exclusive right and obtain an interlocutory injunction restraining Simphiwe Vetyeka from fighting on Friday 6 December 2013 on their show,” Ndou said.

Ndou says that if anything he is pissed off with Vetyeka who continues to show his disloyalty to anyone he works with and he will be happy to release him from the contract for a fee.

“What pisses me off the most about the whole thing is that this kid (Vetyeka) approached me and asked me for help. His career was going nowhere after he had pissed off a lot of people in the boxing industry and had no money to live on or pay his rent. I gave him money to cover his living expenses and paid his rent which I never asked him to pay back. I wasted my time, money and effort trying to put some fight deals together for him but all he ever did in return was shit in my face.”

According to Ndou if he chooses to be hard on Vetyeka he (Vetyeka) can forget about boxing for a couple of years as the agreement he has with him is very tight. It engages him (the manager) to act as Vetyeka’s exclusive manager in respect of all of his boxing engagements and promotional and sponsorship contracts and it extends to any country worldwide where he (Vetyeka) is able to partake in professional boxing.

“I’m happy to release him at any time. His people have my contact details and know where to find me,” said Ndou.